SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ALTERNATIVE
IKEA Has New Studios Across SoCal. Here's a Better Option.
Pre-matched kitchen packages — cabinets, countertops, hardware, sink, and faucet — starting at $3,199. Local pickup in Anaheim, no freight.
From $3,199
Market Context
IKEA Is Expanding — And That's Actually Good News for You
IKEA is opening kitchen planning studios across Southern California in 2026 — Escondido, South Bay San Diego, and the East Bay among them. Each studio offers free one-on-one kitchen consultations, which means more SoCal homeowners are actively researching kitchen options right now.
That research phase is where most people discover the same thing: IKEA kitchens involve more planning, more coordination, and more total cost than the sticker price suggests. Cabinet boxes and doors are priced separately. Countertops come from a different supplier. Hardware is another order. Installation requires certified installers or experienced DIY. By the time you've added it all up, a completed 10×10 IKEA kitchen typically lands between $6,000 and $12,000+.
The Gap
What IKEA's Planning Studios Can't Give You
IKEA's studios are good at one thing: helping you configure IKEA components. What they can't do:
- •Bundle countertops, hardware, sink, and faucet into one pre-matched order
- •Let you pick up everything in person and inspect it before you take it home
- •Give you transparent all-in pricing before you've spent 10+ hours planning
- •Eliminate the coordination risk of sourcing four material categories from different suppliers
"What IKEA's studios can't do: bundle countertops, hardware, sink, and faucet into one pre-matched order — with a single all-in price."
The Alternative
How Room Squared Is Different
Room Squared is an Anaheim-based kitchen package company. We offer six pre-matched kitchen designs — cabinets, quartz countertops, hardware, sink, and faucet — all selected and tested by our design team as complete sets. One order, one price, local pickup.
For Southern California homeowners comparing IKEA against other options, here's the core difference: Room Squared eliminates the coordination problem entirely. The matching is done before you order. The components are inspected in person before you take them home. The price includes everything listed — no component-by-component accumulation.
Packages start at $3,199 for a standard 10×10 kitchen. Pickup only in Anaheim, CA.
Side-by-Side
IKEA SEKTION vs. Room Squared
| Feature | IKEA SEKTION | Room Squared |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinets | Yes — priced per piece | Yes — included |
| Countertops | Separate supplier | Included |
| Hardware | Often separate | Included |
| Sink + Faucet | Separate | Included |
| Pre-matched design | No — you coordinate | Yes — done for you |
| Planning time | 5–15+ hours | Choose from 6 designs |
| All-in price visibility | Builds as you go | From $3,199 |
| Pickup / delivery | Flatpack freight or store | Local pickup, Anaheim |
| Inspect before taking home | Limited | Yes — at our warehouse |
Fit
Who This Works Best For
Room Squared is the right fit if:
- ✓Your kitchen is a standard 10×10 or similar size
- ✓You want one all-in price without component-by-component accumulation
- ✓You prefer local pickup with in-person inspection
- ✓One of our six designs matches your vision
IKEA may be a better fit if:
- →You have a highly custom configuration that needs individual cabinet sizing
- →You enjoy the planning process
- →You want maximum component-level flexibility
For Orange County homeowners specifically, see our IKEA kitchen alternative Orange County page.
FAQ